A cosposation of



w'. K. BOOTH AN'U'W. L. MORRIS.

ELECTRIC FURNACE. I APPLICATION FILED APR. 9, 1920.

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ELECTRIC FURNACE. APPLICATION FILED APR.9| l920.

Patentefi @1126, 1921.;

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

K. BOOTH AND W. L.' MORRIS.

ELECTRIC FURNACE. APPUCATION FILED APR. 9, I920.

Patented A r. 26; 1921.

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I APPLICATION FILED APR.9. 1920. v 1,376,072. Patented Apr. 26,1921.

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7 *WILLIAM K. BOOTH AND WlLLIAlVI L. MORRIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO THE BOOTH ELECTRIC FURNACE (10., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

' T all whom it may concern 7 Be it known thatwe, Vl' ILLiAM K. BOOTH and WILLIAM L. Mourns, citizens of the type; and the primary object is to provide a f urnace of'this type with means for effectively cooling the electrode bearings, with i which the furnace isequipped.

The invention is illustrated, in its preferred embodiment, in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 "represents an end elevational view i of a rotary furnace equipped with the improvements; Fig. 1 a sectional viewparallel "with the end of the furnace and show- ,ing' a mounting-plate which appears in Fig.

1 ;-Fig'. 1 a sectional view of a water-cooled electrocle' 'bearing which appears also in Fin; 1- Fi 1 a broken sectional View a: 3 in 7 i shownig one or the universal ointsof the Water-pipe employed; Fig. 2, an end elevational view of the opposite end of the machine; Fig', 2 a sectional view parallel with the end of the furnace and showing the mounting-plate which appears also in Fig.

2.; 3, broken longitudinal sectional view of the end port1on of the furnace shown inFig. 1; Fig. 8 a broken sectional lview taken as indicated at line 3* of Fig. 1,

arid showing a detail of the annular track which serves also as an annular contact m'ember Fig. 3 a broken longitudinal ver- .tical section of the furnace, taken as indi- 40.

sated at line 3 'ofyFig. 1; Fig. 4, a broken vertical section taken as indicated at line 4 "of F the in race which is viewed in Fig. 2; and

2 and showing theend-portion of 4, an, enlarged vertical sectional view In the construction illustrated, A represhowing a detail of a water-discharge pipe.

' scnts' abase, or frame, in which are jourv the shaftA"; G. a

naled longitudinal shafts A. equipped with rollers A upon whichthe furnace-body is supported; B, .an'elect-ric motor geared to furnace-body of cylindrical form'which is equipped with annular insulating tracks C, which serve also as annular' contact Tminbers; D, a mounting- Specification of Letters Patent.

ELECTRIC FURNACE.

. Patented Apr. 26, 1921.

Application filed April 9, 1920. Serial No. 372,474.

plate carried by one endof the furnace and equipped w1th an electrode frame D, on

which is mounted an adjustable electrode clamp D carrying an electrode D E,'a mounting-plate carried by the opposite end of the furnace and equipped with an electrode frame E, on which is mounted an adjustable electrode-clamp E which carries an electrode E the mounting-plate E being secured to'a charging :door E mounted on the end of the furnace; F,- F, brushes, or contact members, mounted on the base A and engaging the annular contact members C of the furnacebody; G, G, water-cooled electrode bearings or cooling-collars for the electrodes D and E respectively; and G a water-circulating system which serves to circulate water through the electrode-bearing and then through the electrode-bearin G.

The base, or frame, A, may be of any suitable construction; and the rollers which support the furnace-body may be actuated by any suitable mechanism to turn the fur nace-body about its axis. The movement of the furnace-body may be an oscillating movement, or a continuous rotary movement, preferably the latter, as illustrated.

T he furnacebody C may be constructed in any. desired manner. It is shown as comprising a steel shell 1 and a refractory lining: 2. An axial charging. opening 3 is provided at one end of the furnace, this openingbeing closedby the door E The other end of the furnace is shown provided with a discharge-spout l.

The mounting-plate D is shown secured, by means of bolts 5, to angle'members 6, which aresecured, in turn, to angle-members 7 rireted to one end of the steel shell 1. The elect'rodie-supporting frame D comprises, in addition to the mounting-plate D, horizontal guide-rods, whose inner ends are firmly secured to the plate D. The electrode clamp D is slidably mounted on the rods 8 and is actuated by screws-9, which" are equipped with pinions 9 engaged by a gear 10 of a tubular member 10, which is journaled in the end plate 8 which constitutes a partof the frame D, the outer end. of the member 10 being provided with a hand-wheel 10". Rotation of the member l0 throug'hthe medium of-the hand-wheel causes the gear 10 to actuate the screws 9,

and move the electrode-clamp inwardly, or outwardly, as desired.

The mounting-plate E, which forms the base of the electrode-supporting frame E, is secured to the charging door E by means of bolts 11. The door is mounted to swing on a vertical pivot 12 carried by a'suitable frame 13 secured to the end wall of the furnace. The electro(lo-supporting frame E comprises, in addition to the plate E, guiderods 14: and an outer end plate 1st". The electrode-clamp E is mounted on the guides 1% and actuated by screws 15 equipped with pinions 15, which, in turn, are actuated by a gear 16 formed integrally with a tubular member 16 jonrnaled in the plate 14 and equipped with an annular hand-wheel 16 The water-cooled collar G for the electrode D comprises a hollow annular metal member, which is set in a counter-sink 17 at the outer end of a central perforation 17 in the end-lining of the furnace.

The water-cooled member G for the electrode E comprises a hollow collar which is set '2. a counter-sink 18 at the outer end of a central perforation 18 in a block of refractory material 19, which constitutes the lining of the door E The brushes, or stationary contact members, F, F, may be of any suitable construction. The brushes are charged by an electric circuit (not shown), and the annular contact members C are thus energized. Said annular contact members are connected, by flexible conductors 20, with the electrode-clamps. The circuit is completed through the clamps of the electrodes, and the furnace operates through an arc betweenthe inner ends of the electrodes.

The water-circulating system G which circulates water through the electrode-bear- 'ng i and thence through the electrodeearing (l, comprises a stationary inlet pipe i through which water under pressure any suitable source may enter; a pipe g a vertical swivel portion 22 dis one side of the furnace near one vertical swivel joint 22 with the inlet pipe 21, the pipe 22 haying a portion 22 which extcmls substanti ly parallel with the ends of the furnace, and-having also an outwu ally-extending portion 22 which extends arallel with the electrode frame and projects some distance beyond the outer end the eof; a transverse pipe-joint which has universal connection 23 with the outer end of the portion 22 of the pipe 22, and which has universal connection 23 at its opposite end; pipe 24: extending substantially parallel with the electrode frame and having its outer en l connected with the pipe-joint through the universal joint 23 and hav- 1 ing its inner end s rewed into an internallythrough which the water passes from the pipe 2sta pipe 26 connected with the hose and leading into the chamber 27 of the el.ectrodebearing G; a return pipe 28 leading outwardly from the electrode-bearing (l; a rubber hose connection 29 through which the water passes from the pipe 28; a longitudinal pipe 30 (Figs. 1 and 3") which extends longitudinally along the outer surface of the furnace-body; a rubber hose 31 through wihch the water passes from the pipe 30 to the mounting-plate E; a pipe 32 which communicates with the hose 31 and extends inwarlly to the electrode-bearing ll, where it communicates with the water chamber of said bearing; a return pipe leading-j outwardly from said bearing; a rubber hose 35 which receives the water from the pigs 34; a pipe 36 which receives the water from the hose said pipe 36 having its inner "1d securely mounted in a boss 36" of the pin and having its outer end extending some distance beyond the outer end of the electrode frame E; a transverse pipe joint 37 having one end connected, by iu'ziversal joint 37 with the pipe 36, and having the other end equipped with a universal j oint 37 an inclined pipe 38 having its outer end connected with the swivel oint 3'7 and having its inner, lower end communicating' with a passage 38 in a swivel member 38 a vertical pipe 39 which receives the water from the passage 38, and a stationary discharge pipe 40, which communirates through a vertical swivel joint 40 with the pipe 39.

A detail of the universal joints employed as ipe joints is shown in 1, )y way of example. It is unnecessary to describe the oint in detail, as it will be readily understood, and any suitable joint can be employed. V

he vert'cal portion 22 of the admission pipe 22 extends tl'irough a tubular standard 45.. Above said standard, the pipe has secure 'l thereto a collar 42 which bears on the upper end of the standard. It will be understood. however, that the swivel oint 22, which. is located below the standard. aifords swivel connection between the nary intake pipe 21 and the vertical 9 of the pi 3e us has been explained, the pipe 24: tends mai .y parallel with the electrode, and is fixedly carried by the mountingplate D. Thus, as the furnace rotates, the outer end of the pipe 2% and the universal joint 23 carried thereby describe a circle; and the cross-pipe joint oscillates about the axis of the outer end of the pipe 24;, which has a movement like a crank. The cross-pipe 23 being connected with the pipe 22 by universal joint, and the pipe 22 being vertically swiveled, it will he under stood that the pipe 22 can turn in its vertical bearing as may be necessary during the rotation of the furnace.

Ashas beenv stated, the inner end of the pipe 24 is screwed into a hollow boss 24:

, pipe 36"is rigidly mounted on the plate E,

and its outer end describes a circle, as the furnace rotates. The cross-pipe 37 oscillates about the outer end of the pipe 36 as a center during rotation of the furnace, the outer end of the pipe 86 having thus a crank-like connection. The link, or pipe, 38', oscillates about its vertical axis at 39,

as may be necessary. The construction at the discharge end of the water circulating system is such, also, that the furnace door can be swung open to enable the furnace to be charged, without disturbing the water circulation. Fig. 2 shows how the mounting-plate D is suitably cored to accommodate the ends of the bent hose 35 and the end of the hose 31. The construction is virtually the same as at the other end of thefurnace. V I i The construction described provides a water-circulating system for. cooling the electrodes, or the electrode-bearings, of a furnace of. the'rotary type. The construction permits the charging door of the furnace to be opened and closed without disarranging the-system. It may be stated,

, also, that the use of water-cooled collars on bearings for the electrodes, said collars being composed of'meta-l, serves to provide for the electrodes suitable bearings, in which the electrodes will not stick. This is of"particular importance in melting brass or other metal containing a volatile constituent, such [as zinc, as the tendency of the bearing to freeze to the electrode is obviated. sash difficulty has been found to existwhereordinary graphite bearings have beenfempl oyec for the electrodes;

' lieferring to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the door T can be opened by swinging it outwardly and to the right about the pintle 12. flf we assume the furnace to be rotated 180, doormay be opened by swinging noted that the pipe-connections permit the doorto be opened in either of these positions, and the feature of swiveling the pipe 38"at1or near the vertical median plane of the furnace facilitates this result.

It will be G and G, while in the nature of bearings, are not depended upon to support the electrodes but chiefly serve as cooling-collars for the electrodes and as rather loose stuffing-boxes in the ends of the furnace.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitation should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

ld hat I re ard as new, and desire to secure by Letters latent, is:

1. In an electric furnace, the combination of a furnace-body provided with arefractory lining, means for sup-porting said body and rotating it to any desired extent about its axis, electrodes extending through the end walls of said body at its axis of rotation, adjustable electrode supports mounted on the ends of said body and carrying said electrodes, means for supplying currentto said electrodes, metal collars'for said electrodes in the end walls of said body provided with water passages, and means for circulating water through said collars during rotative movement of the furnace-body about said axis.

2. In an electric furnace, the combination of a furnace-body provided with a refractory lining, means for supporting said body and turning it about its axis, e lectrodes ex tending through the end walls of said body at the axis of rotation, adjustable electrode supports mounted on the ends of said body and carrying said electrodes, means for supplying current to said electrodes, metal collars in the end walls of said body provided with water passages, mounting-plates di posed outside the end walls of said furnacebody and independent of said collars, and means for circulating water through said collars when the furnace-body is moving, including in-go ing and return pipes com: municating with the water passages of said collars which are connected with said mounting plates. c

3. In an electric furnace, the combination of a furnace-body provided with a rcfrac tory lining, means forsup-porting saidbody and turning it about its axis, electrodes ex tending through the end walls of said body at said axis, adjustable electrodesupports mounted on the ends of said body and carrying said electrodes, means for supplying current to said electrodes, metal collars in the end wallsof said .ibody provided with water passages, and means forflcirculating waterthrough said collars when the. furnace-body is moving, including pipes carried by said mounting-plates and projecting outwardly therefrom substantially parallel with the electrodes, pipes connected with said mounting-plates and communicating with the water passages in said collars, one of said last-mentioned pipes communicating with the corresponding first-mentioned pipe, and pipes having jointed connection with said first-mentioned pipes at points beyond the electrodes and electrode-supporting means, said jointed connections permitting rotation of the furnace about said axis.

4. In an electric furnace, the combination of a rotating furnace-body provided with a refractory lining, electrode-supporting frames projecting from the ends thereof, electrode-clamps adjustably mounted on said frames, electrodes carried by said clamps and extending through the end walls of the furnace-body, means for supplying electric current to the electrodes, metal collars for the electrodes mounted in the end walls of the furnace and provided with water passages, and means for circulating water through said collars comprising pipes supported on the end walls of the furnace-body and extending parallel with and projecting beyond the outer ends of the electrode-supporting frames, said pipes communicating with the passages of said collars, cross-pipes having swivel connections at one end with the outer ends of said first-named pipes, and pipes having swivel connection with the other ends of said cross pipes.

5. In an electric furnace, the combination of a furnace-body provided with a refractory lining, means for supporting said body and rotating it about its axis, an electrodesupporting frame extending from the end wall of said body, an electrode-clamp ad-' justably mounted on said frame, an electrode carried by said clamp and extending through the end wall of said body, means for supplying current to said electrode, a metal collar in the end wall of said body provided with a water passage, a mountingplate constituting the inner end of an electrode frame, inlet and outlet pipes connected with said mounting-plate and co-mmunicat ing with the passage of said collar, a water pipe having its inner end secured to said mounting-plate and having its outer end projecting beyond the outer end of said frame, said pipe communicating with one of the pipes leading to said collar, a crosspipe having universal connection with the outer end of said secondmentioned pipe, a pipe having universal connection with the other end of said cross-pipe, and a pipe having swivel connection with said last-mentioned pipe.

6. In an electric furnace, the combination of a rotating furnace-body provided with a refractory lining, electrode-supporting frames projecting from the end walls of said body, electrode-clamps adjustably mounted on said frames, electrodes carried by said clamps and extending through the end walls of said body, jacketed collars for said electrodes in the end walls of said body,

of a rotating furnace-body provided with a refractory lining, electrode-supporting frames projecting from the end walls of said body, electrode clamps adjustably mounted on said frames, electrodes carried by said clamps and extending through the end walls of said body, jacketed collars for said electrodes in the end walls of said body, pipes extending substantially parallel with the electrode-supporting frames and projecting beyond the outer ends of said frames, said pipes being in communication with said jacketed collars, a water conduit con necting said jacketed collars, cross-pipes having universal connection. with the outer ends of said projecting pipes, pipes having universal connection with said cross-pipes, and inlet and discharge pipes having swivel connection with said lastmentioned' pipes.

8. In an electric furnace, the combination of a rotating furnace-body provided with a refractory lining, a mounting-plate secured on one end of said body, an electrode-supporting frame c rried by said mountingplate, an electrode-clamp adjustably mounted on said frame, an electrode carried by said clamp and extending through the end wall of said body, a chambered bearing for said electrode mounted in the end wall of said body, inlet and outlet pipes connected with said mounting-plate and communicating with said bearing, a pipe having its inner end secured to said mounting-plate and communicating with the inlet pipe of said bearing and having its outer end projecting beyond the outer end of said frame, a cross-pipe having universal connection with the projecting pipe, another pipe having universal connection with said crosspipe and having a vertical swivel portion, and an inlet pipe having swivel connection with the vertical portion of said last-mentioned pipe.

9. In an electric furnace, the combination of a furnace body and means for actuating it about its axis, said body being provided with a refractory lining, a mounting-plate carried by an end wall of the furnace body and provided with pipe passages, an electrode-frame carried by said mounting-plate, an electrode-clamp adjustably mounted on said frame, an electrode carried by said clamp and extending through the end wall of said body at said axis, a collar for said electrode provided with a water passage,

' pipes communicating with said water passage and having portions extending through the pipe passages of said mounting-plate, and means for admitting water to and educting water from said pipes while the furnacebody is in motion. 7

10. In an electric furnace, the combina tion of a rotating furnace-body provided with a refractory lining, an adjustable electrode extending through an end wall thereof, a mounting-plate carried by said end wall, an electrode-bearing in the end wall at the axis of rotation provided with a water passage, a pipe projecting from said mounting-plate substantially parallel with the electrode, an inlet ipe leading to said bearing, a hose carrie by said mounting-plate and connecting said pipes, an outlet pipe leading from said bearing, a conduit supported by said mounting-plate and communicating with said outlet pipe, and means for supplying water to the pipe projecting from said mounting-plate during rotation of the furnace-body.

11. In an electric furnace, the combination of a rotating furnace-body provided with a refractory lining, electrode bearings mounted in the end walls of said furnacebody and provided with water passages, a water conduit connecting the passages of said bearings, said pipe having a portion extending along the outer wall of the fur nace-body from one end of the furnace to the other, means for supplying water under pressure to the passage in one of said bearings, and means for discharging water from the passage of the other of said bearings.

12. In an electric furnace, the combination of a furnace-body, means for supporting said body and turning it about its axis, a charging door mounted on one end of said body, an electrode-frame carried by said charging door, an electrode-clamp adjustably mounted on said frame, an electrode carried bysaid clamp and extending through said door, an electrode-collar in said door provided with a water passage, and means adapted to circulate water through said collar during the actuation of the furnace body, said means being adapted to permit said door to be opened without disconnecting the water circulating means.

13. In an electric furnace, the combination of a rotating furnace-body, an axial charging door mounted on one end of said body, an electrode frame carried by said door, an electrode-clamp adjustably mounted on said frame, an electrode carried by said clamp and extending through said door, a jacketed electrode-bearing in said door, means for admitting water to said bearing, a pipe extending outwardly from said door and communicating with said bearing, the outer end of said pipe projecting beyond the electrode frame, astationary pipe disposed near the base of the furnace, pipe connections between said stationary pipe and the pipe projecting beyond the electrode-frame, said pipe connection permitting rotation of the furnace-body and enabhng the charging door to be opened without interfering with the water circulating system.

14. In an electric furnace, the combination with a rotary furnace body, electrodeframes projecting from the ends thereof, electrodes adjustably carried by said frames and extending through the ends of the furnace-body, and means for supplying electric current to said electrodes, of jacketed bearings for said electrodes, means for circulating water through said bearings, including eecentrically disposed pipes which project beyond the outer ends of the electrode-frames, and jointed inlet and discharge pipes connected with the outer ends of said projecting pipes, and stationary inlet and discharge pipes having jointed connections with said last-mentioned pipes, whereby circulation through said bearings will be maintained during rotation of said furnace-body.

15. In an electric furnace, the combination of a furnace-body equipped at one end with a swinging door, an electrode frame mounted 011 said door, an electrode carried by said frame and extending through the door, an electrode bearing in said door provided with a water chamber, and water circulating means comprising a pipe communicating with said water chamber, said pipe permitting the door to be opened and closed, a pipe carried by said door and projecting beyond the outer'end of said electrode-frame, the inner end of said pipe communicating with said water chamber, a cross-pipe having universal connection with the outer end of said projecting pipe, an inclined pipe having universal connection at its outer end with said cross-pipe and having swivel connection at its inner end in the base of the furnace, and a stationary discharge-pipe having swivel connection with said lastmentioned pipe.

16. The combination of a rotary furnacebody equipped at its end with a swinging door, an electrodedi'ame mounted on said door, an electrode adjustably mounted on said frame, a cooling-collar for said electrode mounted on said door, and pipe-connections for said cooling-collar, including a pipe mounted on said door and projecting beyond the electrode-frame, and a pipe communicating with said first-named pipe and having a swivel connection disposed in approximately a longitudinal median plane of the furnace-body.

WILLIAM K. BOOTH. WILLIAM L. MORRIS. 

